CommonHealth Weekly Wellnote

August 21, 2024 / Get Well

How can your  Virginia State Employee Wellness Program help? The CommonHealth programs and campaigns cover a variety of health topics and are available in a range of formats to meet the needs of different workplaces. Highly skilled Wellness Consultants provide the latest on stress, sleep, nutrition, exercise, and more for faculty/ staff meetings, special events, conferences, benefit fairs, safety meetings, lunch and learns, etc. They provide traditional, in-person presentations and displays as well as virtual presentations, on-demand videos, and seasonal health-related challenges that are fun and engaging. Visit the website to see how CommonHealth can help you.  If you’re looking to book an event in September, connect sooner rather than later to ensure you get a date that works for you.

Click here to view this week’s CommonHealth Wellnote.  Check out this week’s highlights below.

NOTES:

Register Today!!
NOVA Walk Week has returned for this fall ( September 16-20). Share the dates with a friend or two and prepare to get out and explore our campuses that week. WalkWeek is all about engaging with your NOVA community while being active. Registration is now open!! Sign up and share with a colleague.

Spotlight on Financial Fitness: Emergency Savings Fund
We never know when unexpected hardships may arise, and it is important to be prepared in the event of a financial emergency. An emergency fund is a savings account that helps with unplanned expenses, such as medical bills, car or home repairs, loss of income, etc. It serves as a safety net that can help us navigate emergencies with less stress.

Start saving for emergencies with these tips:

  • Create a realistic budget. Identify where your money is going and figure out where you can set aside money for your emergency savings.
  • Select your emergency savings goal. Decide how much you can afford to comfortably place in your emergency savings based on your budget.
  • Try to increase your savings as often as possible. If you stick to your budget and find that you have saved more in other areas, apply the surplus to your emergency savings as a safety net.
  • Save a portion of any raises, bonuses, or additional income to help you reach your goals more quickly.
  • Keep saving even after reaching your savings goals. Before you know it, you will exceed your goals which can provide additional savings amounts.
  • Try It This Week: Learn About Recommended Vaccines

In honor of National Immunization Awareness Month, find out which immunizations (also known as vaccines) are recommended for you. Vaccines assist your immune system in preventing and protecting you from harmful illness or disease, such as flu, COVID-19, pneumonia, and more. Complete the Adult Vaccine Assessment Tool to get a list of vaccines you may need and then discuss that list with your health care provider.

Vaccines cost much less than treatment for diseases they prevent! See the Kaiser attachment for more great reasons to get immunized.

Benefits Buzz: Health Plan Discounts
Many health plans offer discounts on products and services that help promote better health and well-being. (Discounts vary by plan.) This helps us save money while taking care of our health! Check with your health plan to learn more about discounts they may offer on products and services such as:

  • Fitness Centers
  • Massage
  • Nutritional Services
  • Fitness Equipment & Trackers
  • Hearing Aids & Eyewear
  • Vitamins & Supplements

Discounts vary by health plan. Contact your health plan for details. Check out the discounts the NOVA community has access to.

For questions regarding this week’s communication or the CommonHealth program, please reach out to your respective campus coordinator below:

Submitted by:
Faith Redd-Walker, Office of Employee Wellness and Wellbeing, employeewellbeing@nvcc.edu